Signal for autos and other vehicles



J. ODONNELL, Jn.

SIGNAL FOR AuTovs AND OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I6, 1919.

Patented June 1, 1.920.

n "l" un UNITED STATES PATENT FFC.

JOI-IN ODONNELL, JR., OF PHILADLIDI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO LOUIS H. BROWN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL FOR AUTOS AND OTHER VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 16, 1919. Serial No. 345,179.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN ODoNNnLL, Jr., a citizen of theUnited States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Signal for Autos and other Vehicles, of which the following is a specifiation.

My invention consists of a signal for an auto or other vehicle so as to indicate to an approaching vehicle from the rear the fact that the vehicle in advance is to turn to the right or left, to stop or back, the means employed and the operation of the same being hereinafter set forth.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the im portant instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown and described, as long as they are within the spirit or scope of the claims.

Figure 1 represents an elevation of a signal embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a central, horizontal, longitudinal section thereof on line 2-2 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a central vertical section thereof on line 3-3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 represents a rear view of a portion of a vehicle having the invention applied thereto on a reduced scale.

Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of the fastening devices for the signal detached from the vehicle.

'Fig 6 represents an elevation of a portion of a signal different from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 represents a horizontal section of a modification of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings- 1 designates portions of the rear walls of an auto or other vehicle to which the sig nal embodying my invention is applicable, said signal consisting of the frame 2 in which are plates 3, el, 5 and 6, say of glass colored on their outer faces and on which latter are ground-off signal words as follows:-Stop, Turn and Back the frame being divided into sections separated from each other so that each of the above named words appears in its own section, and each section having therein an electric lamp 7 so that each section may be illuminated and so each of said words may have the light of its lamp reflected through its plate and made visible to the occupant of a vehicle approaching from the rear whereby the chauffeur or driver of said vehicle may be signaled to know the movement of the vehicle in front whether it be to turn to the right or to the left, to stop, or back The lamps have connected with them the electric wires or conductors 8 which extend from within reach of the chauffeur or driver and are connected thereat by switches or push buttons whereby the proper lamp may be energized and the distinctive signal made apparent to the chauffeur or driver of the approaching vehicle so as to govern himself accordingly.

The frame 2 consists of two members, the front one being composed of the side wall 9 and the front rim 10 and the rear member being composed of the side wall 11 and back 12, thus forming a chamber in whose sections are placed the glass plates and electric lights, as most plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The back 12 is placed against the adjacent wall 1 of the body of the vehicle and has therein an opening in which is fitted the thimble 13 whose rear end is formed with the fiange 14 which is fitted on the wall of said opening in the back. The two walls of said body have therein an opening through which said thimble passes, said opening having also therein the thimble 15 which telescopically receives the thimble 13 and its' rear end is formed with the'fiange 16 which rests against the inner face of the outer wall 1 of the body of the vehicle, said thimbles being screw threaded so as to bel screwed together and to the respective portions of the back 12, and Walls 1, whereby they may clamp said parts and so hold the signal device firmly in position on the body of the vehicle. To prevent the thimbles from being unscrewed I employ the screw 17 which is passed through the side of the outer thimble and has its point adapted to tighten against the inner thimble. As it is important to hold the signal device firmly on the vehicle owing to the shaking of the latter when running, the back 12 of the frame of said device has in the Wall of the opening 17a which receives the thimble Patented June 1, 1920. g

lf3 the outturned slots i8, and the flange lil of said thiinble has on its inner side the tongues l5) which are adapted to enter the slots 18 and so assist in preventing the turning ot the thinible on the signal device and vice versa. To assist further in holding` the device on the auto body l provide the back ot the traine 2 with eyes 20 which are adapted to be screwed to the adjacent Wall of the body oi the vehicle, the ellect ot which is evident.

ln Figs. l, 2, and 3, the trarne l is i'ornied ol nietal and the signal Words are formed on the glass plate as has been stated, While in G, the signal Words are cnt-out sonic-,What stencil-like on the nietal "traine, and a plate olf' colored glass is placed baci; ol? the saine.

In Fig. l' the back Wall et the body ot the vehicle is swaged or stamped out to forni the chainber 2l in which the signal device is placed and retained.

The n'ieinbers oi the lranic 2 are united by the screws 22 on the sides thereof which when removed permit the disconnection of said ineinber and entrance into said trame lor access to the lainps and other appui'- tenances Ytor purposes requiring the saine.

Having thus described my invention what l claiin as nenT and desire to secure by lietters Patent, is

l. vehicle signal tor the purpose described, consisting oli a divisional traine, transparent plates, and electric lights in each division olI said traine, the back ot said if aine having an opening, a thirnbie in said opening and having a iiange, a thiinble telescopically receiving said first-named thirnble and liaving a `flange, said. thiinbles being secured together and adapted to be engaged 1with. the rear wall of a vehicle body and the signal clamped against the outer wall ther-ooi` by said flanges.

2. il. vehicle signal "for the purpose described, consistinf ot divisional fran'ie,

transparent plates, and electric lights each division et said traine, the baclr oli sai ine having an opening, a thirnbie in said opening and having a flange, a. thiinblc telescopicalljyr receiving said nrst-nained tni'inbie and having a flange, said tliiznbles being screw-thread^d together and adapted to be engaged. With the rear Wall of a vehicle body and the signal claniped against the outer wall thereof by said flanges, and interengaging tongues and slots to prevent turning of the thinibles.

ln a vehicle signal` for the purpose described consisting oi a traine, indicating signal cliaraitters in said Al'iaine, transparent irilatcs in said trarne, ilhiniinating devices in said traine, and ineans for securing said traine a proper portion ot a vehicle consisting ot' telescopically itteo thinibles, the latter being connected with eachother and with said portion el a vehicle, with the rear Wall ot the signal casing claniped against the :inter wall oiE the vehicle by said flanges, and interengaging nieans to prevent turning' of the thiinbles.

ln a vehicle signal for the nirpose described consisting ol a frame, indicating signal characters in said trainey transparent plates in said trarne, illuminating devices in said traine, and means for securing said frame to a proper portion a vehicle consisting ot telescopicaliy fitted thiinbles, the latter being connected with each other and with said portion et a vehicle, said thiinbles being each provided with tlanges adapted to clanip the parts with which they contact and to clamp the rear wall ot the signal casing against the outer Wall of the vehicle, and interengaging means to prevent turning of the thirnbles.

5. Il. vehicle signal :tor the purpose described consisting ot a traine, and indicating signal characters therein, and means 'for connecting said trame with a proper part ot a vehicle consisting oi a thinible Which is attached to the back of said trarne and to a proper portion ol the vehicle, said baci: having therein an opening to receive said thirnble, and a slot in the Wall oit said opening, and said thimble having on its peripheral portion a tongue which is adapted interloclringly to occupy said slot.

JOHN (VD 0l lllELLi, 

